On September 19, 2024, BLACKPINK‘s Jennie stirred up controversy with a simple audio message addressing her fans as “Rubies.” This greeting, which many interpreted as the announcement of her new fandom name, was met with backlash due to its similarity to the name of another K-pop artist’s fanbase.

Controversy Over Fandom Names

Jennie’s message was part of a brief update on her newly launched website. In the audio clip, she said, “Hi Rubies, It’s Jennie. Stay tuned and see you soon. Love you, bye.” Fans were excited about hearing from the K-pop star, but the use of “Rubies” quickly became a point of contention.

Many fans and netizens assumed that Jennie was announcing her new fandom name ahead of her solo album release. However, the controversy erupted when it was noted that “Rubies” is strikingly similar to “RUBI,” the name of Kwon Eunbi‘s fanbase. In the K-pop industry, it is considered highly inappropriate to use identical or very similar names for fan communities as it can lead to confusion and disputes between fanbases.

Clarifications and Continued Backlash

In response to the growing criticism, Jennie’s agency, ODD ATELIER, clarified that “Rubies” was not intended as an official fandom name. They emphasized that the term was simply used in a casual context on her website update and was not meant to represent her fanbase officially. Despite this clarification, the backlash continued, with critics accusing Jennie and her agency of poor planning and research.

Critics pointed out that the use of a similar name could have been avoided with better preparation and attention to existing fandom names. They also suggested that the clarification from ODD ATELIER came only after the controversy had already gained significant attention, which further fueled the criticism.

Support from Fans and Upcoming Solo Debut

Amid the controversy, Jennie’s supporters defended her, arguing that the names “Rubies” and “RUBI” are distinct enough to avoid confusion. They highlighted that the names differ by only one letter and that the issue might have been exaggerated.

Jennie is currently preparing for a major milestone in her solo career. Recently, she signed with Columbia Records, a prominent label under Sony Music Entertainment. She has also launched her official website and initiated a countdown that concluded on September 19 at 8 AM KST (4:30 AM IST). Her upcoming solo album is highly anticipated, and she has secured the trademark rights to “Jennie Ruby Jane,” hinting that this name might be used for her solo music releases.

Despite the controversy, Jennie’s solo debut is set to be a significant event in her career, with expectations high for the success of her new music venture.

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